[goBIGblue82]

Please tell... Why do you keep using this one kid from Whitley as an example when there are many schools in the 13th region area that have kids being held back. Example; Bell, Whitley, Clay, Corbin, Knox, and Williamsburg.

The schools you have mentioned do have players that have been heldback, however those kids were held back in earlier grades or did not participate in sports during their holdback year. I dont have anything against holding a kid back in earlier grades if its going to be better for the kids later. However the problem i have is with the way Whitley Co. is doing it. A kid will be promoted from 7th grade to 8th and participate in sports his 8th grade year, and then at the end of his 8th grade year he is placed back into 7th grade. It just seems a little unethical to place a student back in a grade he was promoted from a year ago. So please tell... What is the reason for this kid to be heldback? Because as you already said " he has dominated middle school sports the last 2 years", he is already physically and emotionally mature, and has good academics. It seems that from a parent and player prospective that they would be ready to start with there high school career and move to bigger and better things. Where is the reasoning for him to be retained.